Gangs in Haiti are employing extreme violence, including torture and mutilation, as they exert control over Port-au-Prince, according to U.S. Rep. Brian Mast, who recently led a congressional delegation to the capital. Mast, R-Fla., described harrowing accounts of gang brutality during a trip aimed at assessing the security situation, which he characterized as dire.
Mast recounted a video he was shown depicting the torture of a heavy machinery operator who was assisting police in clearing street blockages. According to Mast, the gangs kidnapped the operator's family, then demanded he surrender himself in exchange for their release. He was subsequently killed, with his ears cut off and fed to him. Mast stated that the incident was captured on video and showed the operator being hacked with machetes for an extended period.
"His limbs looked like a Christmas tree afterwards, with just bone and skin and other things coming off of him, until ultimately they killed him. That is who these gangs are," Mast told Fox News Digital.
The delegation also learned of the kidnapping of a 6-year-old U.S. citizen by a local gang. Mast indicated that the child may have been sexually assaulted, but detailed that her release was secured after her family agreed to a ransom payment following 46 days of captivity. A State Department spokesperson confirmed awareness of the kidnapping report but declined to provide further details out of respect for the family's privacy.
During their visit, lawmakers observed firsthand the challenges faced by Haitian authorities. Mast described encountering streets blocked by rubble and debris, preventing police and military units from navigating the city. He likened some areas to "Afghanistan" and described Haiti as "probably the poorest place I've ever been through in my life."
Mast noted that the Haitian prime minister's palace, which he described as a "war zone" a year prior, was being actively secured by authorities. He also mentioned the presence of an international coalition and a U.S. paramilitary group assisting in these efforts.
However, Mast expressed skepticism about the extent of further U.S. assistance to Haiti, attributing the country's current state to political corruption and the self-serving actions of its leaders. He suggested that the return of Haitians with Temporary Protected Status (TPS) from the U.S. could potentially aid in bolstering security if able-bodied men were integrated into the police and military. The Trump administration ended TPS for Haitians, a status initially granted after the 2010 earthquake, leaving thousands facing potential deportation.